Microsoft has pushed back automatic distribution of
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to allow business users more time
to instruct their machines to skip the update.
The software maker now has different schedules for pushing out
SP2 to the two editions of Windows XP. Users of the Home Edition
should start getting the update this Wednesday (18 August), while
the Professional Edition will not be updated until 25 August,
according to an e-mail Microsoft sent to select users over the
weekend.
The initial schedule called for Microsoft to begin releasing SP2
via the Automatic Updates feature in Windows to all editions of
Windows XP on Monday 16 August.
Microsoft advises consumers to enable Automatic Updates in
Windows XP to patch their systems, but recommends businesses use
patch management tools, such as its Systems Management Server and
Software Update Services, or third-party products.
However, Microsoft was surprised by the large number of business
users who rely on Automatic Updates, so last week it made available
a mechanism to temporarily block the download of SP2 on XP systems.
The updated release schedule is meant to give users more time to
put that SP2 block in place.
While Microsoft has been criticised in the past over SP2 delays,
this time the schedule change is intended to address the requests
of users worried that the update will cause chaos because of
compatibility problems.
SP2 makes significant changes to Windows in the name of
increased security. As a result, SP2 can render existing
applications inoperable. Because of those changes, many businesses
are delaying the installation of the service pack and are taking
time for testing. Automatic Updates initially did not give users
that flexibility.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service